Skyros: Atsitsa and the west of the island destination risk · checked against official sources 16 August 2026 at 09:47 UK time
Skyros: Atsitsa and the west of the island Wildfire Risk: Should I Travel?
A forest fire that started at Atsitsa on the afternoon of Saturday 15 August was still burning on Skyros the following morning, after 112 messages told two settlements on the west coast to leave.
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What is still disrupted in Skyros: Atsitsa and the west of the island
Checked against Hellenic Fire Service statements via Newsbeast on 2026-08-16. Conditions change daily during and after a fire, and the source below is the authority.
- Check locally: Fire still burning in the pine forest at Atsitsa. In English: in full progress, still raging. Reporting on the morning of 16 August put the critical front on the north eastern side, with the southern and south western flanks improved. 89 firefighters and 21 vehicles were on the ground and aerial operations restarted at first light. (as of 2026-08-16)
- Still closed: 112 told Agios Fokas and Pefkos to leave. The first 112 message, shortly after 16:30 on 15 August, told people at Agios Fokas to move on the central ring road towards Acherounes. A second, before 18:30, told the settlement of Pefkos to move on the same road towards Skyros town. (as of 2026-08-15)
- Advice in force: Skyros on category 4 fire danger for 16 August. The civil protection daily map put the Region of Central Greece in the regional units of Boeotia and Euboea, including Skyros, at category 4, very high risk, for Sunday 16 August. No part of the country was at category 5. (as of 2026-08-16)
Hellenic Fire Service statements via Newsbeast →
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Your accommodation on the west coast
Agios Fokas and Pefkos were both told to leave on 15 August. If you are staying anywhere on that side of the island, ring the owner before you set off.112 alerts
Keep emergency alerts switched on and your phone off silent. The evacuation instructions here came by 112 and named the road to use.The ferry from Kymi
Linaria is the island's port and the crossing is from Kymi on Evia. No cancellation because of the fire has been reported, but strong winds were disrupting sailings elsewhere in the Aegean over the same weekend.Walking in the pine forest
The fire is in the forest on the west of the island and crews are still working it. Do not plan a walk on that side until the fire service says it is out.Nearby alternatives to compare
- Skyros town and the east coast,Chora was where the 112 message sent people from Pefkos, and it has not been under an evacuation order.
- Acherounes,This is where the first 112 message told people at Agios Fokas to head, on the central ring road. Check the day's advice before relying on it, because the fire had opened out to the east by the evening.
- Stay on Evia,Kymi is the ferry port for Skyros and is a reasonable base if you would rather not commit to the island this week.
Active fire in Skyros: Atsitsa and the west of the island
Skyros: Atsitsa and the west of the island has an active fire event: burning, spreading, or an evacuation in force. The summary above is the current picture; the linked incident page and official sources carry the live detail, and conditions can change faster than this page. Always follow local authorities.
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What to ask if wildfire affects a booking or route.Europe Fire Map is travel decision support, not an emergency service or an official incident feed. Conditions can change faster than this page. Follow local authorities, accommodation providers and emergency services first. In danger anywhere in the EU, call 112.